Sewing machine



Feb. 24, 1931. H. M. STEPHENSON SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 I5Sheets-Sheet l m/ 6 a/wm 2 in t t nw h at s E. Mm ,mM we IW b 24, 1931-H M. TEPHENSON 1,794,255

' SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2.

/47 11:1: Hili'llllil Ihventof: Hugh MSte henson,

j H is Attorngg Feb. 24, 1931.

H. M. STEPHENSON SEWING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Hugh M. Spephensc m; b5 M g? His Attornegg Patented Feb. 24, 1931UNITED,- STATES PATENT or HUGH m. STEPHENSON, oF FoR'r \WAYNE, INDIANA,lassrenon ro GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANE A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK" SEWINGMACHINE Application filed September 1 My invention relates to sewingmachines and more particularly to bobbin. winders therefor.

During the operation of sewing machines it is frequently necessary torewind the bobbins which supply thread to the stitch forming mechanism.In order to rewind thebobbins in sewing machines as heretoforeconstructed it has been necessary to remove the bobbin from the machine,place it'on a bobbin winding spindle, and disconnect the stitch formingmechanism from its actuating means.

In removing the bobbin from the machine it has been necessary to removefrom under the presser foot and otherwise disarrange the material beingsewn, and unless .an extra spool of thread of the color and size beingused in the machine was at hand it was also necessary to unthread theneedle, take-up and tension system. Before the sewing op-' eration couldbe continued the operator of the machine must have replaced the bobbinin the machine, have rethreaded the needle, the take-up and tensionsystem, and have rearranged the material being sewn under ,the presser-foot to continue where the last stitch had been formed previously. Itwill thus :be seen that rewinding the bobbins in these machines has beena considerable annoyance to the user of the machines, and it has greatlyinterrupted the continuity of operation of the machines as the bobbinsmust be rewound frequently on account of their comparative ly smallthread capacity. a

An object of my invention is to provide a bobbin winder for sewingmachines of such construction that the bobbin of the machine can berewound without removing the same from the machine or unthreading theneedle, take-up or tension system.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bobbin winder which willautomatically stop the winding of thread on the bobbin when apredetermined amount of thread is wound thereon. o v

Another objectof my invention is to provide a thread carrying device fora sewing machine including a bobbin case and a bobbin in which thethread is tensioned during 50 the sewing operation by maintaining thecation.

2, 1927. Serial No. 219,151.

bobbin in frictional bin case.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent asthe description proceeds. i

My invention will be more fully set forth in the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawing, and the features. of noveltywhich characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularityin the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specifi engagementwith the bob- In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sewingmachine embodying my in,vention; F F ig. 2 is a bottom plan view of themachine shown in Fig. 1 partly in section; Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view of the loop-taker and related parts adapted to wind thebobbin of the machine in the position to which they are moved forlocking is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts of the mechanismin the position which they occupyat the beginning of the windingoperation; Fig; 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts of themechanism in the position which they occupy after the bobbinhas beenwound andbefore the actuating means has been reconnected to the stitchforming mechanism t Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are side elevations of thestructure shown in Figs. so 3,4 and5 respectively showing the followerengaging the thread on-the bobbin and the latch actuated thereby; Fig. 9is 'a fragmentary bottom plan view of the machine showing the relationofthe follower to. the looptaker; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are-views,illustrating-the action of the loop-taker in passing the thread loopfrom the needle around the bobbin case and the bobbin; Figs. 13, 14 and15 are side elevations of the structure shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12respectively.

Referring to the drawing, the sewing machine in connection with which Ihave shown my 1nvention comprises a cloth plate 10 having an overhangmarm 11 for supporting a needle bar 12, presser-foot 13 and take-up 14 ofthe usual form. The machine also includes a loop-taker 15 arrangedbeneath the cloth plate 10 in operative relation to the I needle andhaving a bobbincase 16 and a 10 the loop-taker; Fig. 4 70 and therotatable member,

in bearings 19 and 19 extending from the cloth plate 10 and which isconnected to the flywheel 20, the needle bar 12, and take-up 14 bysuitable shafts and gearing extending through the arm 11 of the machineincluding a vertical shaft 21 having a gear 22 engaging a gear 23 on thehollow shaft 18. The ratio of the gearing between the hollow shaft 18and the needle-bar actuating shaft is two to one so that the loop-taker15 makes one revolution upon each strokeof the needle-bar 12. Thematerial is fed under the presser-foot during the operation of themachine by a feed-dog 24 which is actuated by a mechanism described andclaimed in my United States application Serial No. 197,584. filed June9, 1927. having acam 25 secured to the. vertical shaft 21. r

In accordance with my invention thread is wound on the bobbin 17 withoutremoving it from the machine by providing a rotatable member 26 withinthe loop-taker 15 which is connected to the sewing machine driving meansand a mechanism for moving the bobbin 17 into frictional engagement withthe rotatable member in such time relation to the movement'of theloop-taker as to clamp the thread being passed thereby around the bobbinfrom the needle between the bobbin at the same time disconnecting andlocking to a standstill the stitch forming mechanism from the drivingmotor,

thus avoiding excessive vibration of the machine and disarrangement ofthe material being sewn during the winding operation. This constructionprovides for continuously rotating the bobbin until the desired amountof thread is wound thereon. When thread is wound on the bobbin withoutremoving it from the machine the bobbin is below the cloth plate so thatthe operator can not determine when the proper amount of thread hasbeenwound on the bobbin. I overcome this difficulty by providing. amechanism for automatically releasing the bobbin from frictionalengagement with the rotatable member 26 upon the winding of apredetermined amount of thread on the bobbin, and I have made themechanism adjustable to release the bobbin from the rotatable member inresponse to winding different amounts of thread on the bobbin dependingupon the adjustment of the mechanism so that any desired amount ofthread can be wound on the bobbin without removing it from the machine.

In thepresent embodiment of my invention the rotatable member 26 (Figs.2, 3, 4 and 5) is provided with a flange 26a and is secured to anactuating shaft 27 arranged within the hollow shaft 18 and connected bygears 28, 29, 30 and 31 to the actuating means which in this instance isan electric motor 32. The driving connection between the actua-tingshaft 27 and the stitch forming mechanism comprises a projection 26b onthe rotatable member 26which is retained in engagement With a notch 18ain the hollow shaft 18 by a block 33 between the gears 23 and 28. Theblock 33 is removably supported between the gears by a lever 34 pivotedat 34a on the cloth plate and connected to a button 34?) projectingabove the cloth plate so that depressing the button raises the blockabove the gears. Raising the block above the gears permits the gear 23to be moved toward the gear 28 which moves the hollow shaft 18 away fromthe rotatable member 26 far enough to disengage the projection 266 fromthe notch 18a in the hollow shaft 18 so that the rotatable member can bedriven by the motor 32 independently of the hollow shaft 18 and thestitch forming mechanism connected thereto. The vertical shaft 21 isgeared to the shaft to which the flywheel 20 is connected so that duringthe operation of the machine the gear 22 and the flywheel 20 rotate asindicated by the arrows in the drawing (Figs. 1 and 2). By thisarrangement after the block 33 is raised turning of the flywheel forwardby hand causes the gear 23 to be moved toward the gear 28 whichdisengages the notch 18a from the projection 26?), and therebydisconnects the driving. motor from the stitch forming mechanism. Itwill thus be seen that the driving motor actuates the sewing machinethrough the actuating shaft 27, rotatable member 26, and the hollowshaft 18 so that when the notch 18a in the hollow shaft is moved out ofengagement with the projection 26?) on the rotatable member 26 bydepressing the button 346 and turning the flywheel 2O forward,that theshaft 27 can be rotated by the motor 32 within the hollow shaft 18without driving the loop-taker 15 or actuating any of the remainder ofthe stitch forming mechanism.

The thread from the needle is secured to the bobbin 17 at the beginningof the winding operation by the movement of the bobbin into frictionalengagement with the rotatable member 26 so as to clamp the thread fromthe needle between them. It is therefore necessary to provide a bobbinsupport such that the bobbin and the rotatable member can; be broughtinto engagement with each other. I do this by using a cup-shaped bobbincase 16 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which ,is retained within the loop-taker inany suitable manner so as not to interfere with the passing .of thethread loop from the needle around the same and which opens toward therotatable member 26. The bobbin 17 is yieldably retained in the bobbincase 16 by a spring 17a inside of the bobbin and engaging a flange onthe tubular adjusting screw 17?) which is threaded to the bobbin case.In this construction the bobbin thread is tensioned during the sewingoperation by the friction of the bobbobbin and the rotatable member istimed by providing a projection 15:: on the loop-taker 15 which it willbe seen in Figs. to is on the radius from the axis of the shaft 27 tothe tip of the hook 156 of the loop-taker and providing the bearing 19with a notch 19a arranged at the lowermost part of the bearing. By thisarrangement when the button 34?; on the cloth plate 10 is depressed andthe flywheel is turned forwardly the hollow shaft 18 and the loop-taker15 will be rotated until the pro ection 15a is broughtinto alignmentwith the notch 19a. During this movement of the loop-taker the needlewill have moved down so as to bring the thread therein into engagementwith the hook 151 on the'looptaker as shown in Figs. 11 and 14 and willbe rotated one-half revolution to the position shown in Figs. 12 and 15in which position the thread from the needle will pass inside theloop-taker and around the bobbin case and the bobbin and the free end ofthe thread will extend from the bobbin case over the hook 1512, aroundthe bobbin case,and through the opening in ,the throat-plate (notshown). In this position of the loop-taker the hollow shaft 18 will bemoved by the gear 22 on the shaft 27 toward the gear 28, disengaging theprojection 26?) from the notch 18a in the hollow shaft and bringing theprojection 15a into engagement with -the notch 19a in the bearing sothat the actuating shaft 27 Wlll be disconnected from the stitch formingmechanism and the loop -taker will be locked in the position shown inFigs. 12 and 15=with the thread passing from the needle around thebobbin case and the bobbins The bobbin'is moved into engagement with therotatable member 26 so as to clamp the thread passing around the bobbincase between them by' a mechanism including a plunger rod 35 which ismoved through the tubular adjusting screw 17 6 into engagement with thebobbin 16in response to movement of the loop-taker 15 to its lockedposition. This mechanism comprises a shaft 36 supported in bearings 36aextending from the cloth plate and having an axial openlng thereinthrough which the plunger rod 35 extends. The plunger rod is supportedin the shaft 36 by a spring 35a stronger than the spring 17a in thebobbin so that when the shaft is moved from the position shown in F ig.2 to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the tension spring as in the bin by thespring bobbin 17 will be yieldably urged against the rotatable member26. The shaft 36 is moved in this way in response to the movement of theloop-taker to its locked position by a lever 37 having a roller 38thereon engaging the loop-taker and a slot 37 a therein engaging a pin39 ona collar 40 loosely fitted on a reduced portion 41 of the shaft.The lever is pivoted at 42 on the cloth plate 10 and is provided with aspring 37 I) connected to the bearing 19 for retaining the roller inengagement with the loop-taker, which is strong enough to move the shaft36 with the plunger rod therein in its bearings but not strong end ofthe shaft is within the bearing so that a latch 43, which is pivoted ,onthe bearing 36a at 44, isurged toward the shaft 36 by a spring 45 andmoves over the end of the shaft retaining it in this position with theplunger rod 35 retained in engagement with the bob- 35a. The actuatingshaft can then drive the bobbin independently of the stitch formingmechanism and the thread from the needle which is clamped between thebobbin and the rotatable member 26 'will follow over the flange of thebobbin 17 12) and be wound thereon. I

As the bobbin is entirely inaccessible to the user of the machine duringthe winding operation I have provided an arrangement for releasing thelatch 43 from the end" of the shaft 36 in response to mined amount ofthread on the bobbin which consists of a follower arm 46, extending fromthe latch 43 through openings 46b and 460 in the loop-taker 15 and thebobbin case 16 re spectively and bearing on the thread being wound onthe bobbin. In the position of the shaft 36, shown in Fi s. 3 toSinclusive, when the latch 43 is move by the follower from the positionshown in shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8 the edge of the latch passesover the 'end of the shaft 36 and releases it so that it is moved by thespring 37 b from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 inwhich position the roller 38 engages the loop-taker. The shaft 36 isprovided with a tapered portion 48 so that upon release by thelatch thetapered surface 48 raises the latch to the surface of the shaft andraises the follower 46 out of the looptaker (as shown in full lines inFig. 8) so that it will not interfere with the operation thereof whenthe stitch forming mechanism is againreconnected to the actuating shaftand at the same time stops the winding of thread winding a predeter--Fig. 6 to the position' When the loop-taker 15 is on the bobbin byreleasing it from the rothe loop-taker.

tatable member.

The operator of the machine may wish to do only-a small amount of sewingwith the kindor color of thread which is being wound on the bobbin sothat it is desirable to provide an adjustment for changing the amount ofthread desired to be wound on the bobbin before stopping the windingoperation. I" do this by forming an eccentric cam 47 on the shaft 36 atthe end thereof which engages the latch 43. During the winding of'thread on the bobbin the latch 43 rests on the portion of plunger rod35 projecting beyond the end of the shaft 36 and as the latch movesabout its pivotal .support 44 when the thread raises the follower it isapparent that the movement of the follower about the pivotal support 44required to release the latch from the end of the shaft 36 depends uponthe position of rotatable adjustment of the cam 47 relative thereto.However, in all positions of rotatable adjustment of the shaft 36 thefollower will pass over the tapered surface 48 thereon, after movingover the surface of the cam 47, and raise the follower out of engagementwith the loop-taker. It is clear that by rotatable adjustment of theshaft 36 to such position that the portion of the cam 47 nearestthe axisof the shaft is adjacent the latch 43 the amount of thread required tobe wound on the bobbin to raise the follower 46 and the latch 43over-the edge of the cam 47 will be comparatively small. On the otherhand when the cam is adjusted to a position" in which the" portionfarthest from the axis of the shaft 36 is adjacent the latch 43 it willbe apparent that it will require the winding of a substantially fullbobbin to raise the latch above the edge of the cam 47 to release theshaft 36 and raise the follower 46 out of The adjustment of themethanism to vary the amount of thread required to be wound on thebobbin to disengage it from the rotatable member 26 isfacilitated byproviding an adjusting disk 50 extending slightly above the cloth-plate10'of the machine and suitably marked to indicate the amount of threadwhich will be wound on the bobbin for any given setting, the disk beingarranged on the shaft 36 in a slot 50a in the cloth-plate and engaging agroove 49 in the shaft. The disk is retained in the position ofadjustment by a ball 50?) which is urged by a spring 500 towardsopenings 51 drilled in the disk.

When the loop-taker is moved to its initial locked position (Fig. 3)'bymovement of the flywheel 20 the projection 15a thereon is tightly seatedin the notch 19a in the bearing 19 and the roller 38 on the lever 37 isin engagement with the loop-taker 15. As the spring 371) is not strongenough to move the loop-taker and the hollow shaft 18 against thefriction of the mechanism, if the latch bobbin case,

43 were released from the end of the shaft 36 with the loop-taker in theposition shown in Fig. 3, the bobbin would not be released from therotatable member 26 because the lever 37 would be prevented from movingunder the action of the spring 37 b by the roller 38 coming in contactwith the loop-taker. To overcome this, I arrange a spring 53 on thehollow shaft 18' between the bearing 19 and a collar 54 which is securedto the shaft 18 by a set screw 55. The collar 54 is adjusted on theshaft 18 so that the spring 53 exerts force against the movement of theshaft 18 toward the gear 28 for about one-third of its movement from theposition in which the hollow shaft is in engagement with the rotatablemember to the position in which the projection 15a on the loop-taker isseated in the recess 19a in the bearing. Consequently, when the flywheel.20 of the machine is released, after the mechanism is turned thereby tothe position shown in Fig. 3, the spring 53 moves the hollow shaft 18and the looptaker a short distance toward the bobbin case (as shown inFig. 4) without unlocking the loop-taker or reengaging the rotatablemember 26 with the hollow shaft 18. This moves the loop-taker farenough" away from the roller 38 to permit the spring 371), after thelatch is released by winding thread on the bobbin, to swing the lever 37about its pivotal support far enough to disengage the plunger rod 35fromthe bobbin and allow it to move out of engagement with the rotatablemember 26 and into its operative position within the as shown in Fig. 5,before the roller comes in contact with the loop-taker.

The bobbin is not in view of the operator of the machine during thewinding of thread thereon so that he has'no way of knowing when thebobbin will be released by the follower. If releasing of thebobbin fromthe rotatable member reconnected the stitch forming mechanism to thedriving means it would occur before the operator could stop the (drivingmotor and would disturb the material under the presser-foot or tanglethe thread in the machine. For this reason the spring 371) is madestrong enough to move the shaft 36 with the plunger rod 35 in itsbearings but not strong enough to move the looptaker 15 and the shaft 18toward the rotatable member so that release of the shaft 36 by the latch43 disengages the bobbin from the rotatable member and stops the windingof thread on the bobbin without bringing the projection 26?) on therotatable member 26 into engagement with the notch 18a in the hollowshaft 18 and reconnecting the driving motor to the .stitch formingmechanism. However, the stitch forming mechanism can be readilyreconnected to the driving motor by turning the flywheel 2O backward byhand which will cause the gear 22 to be moved awa from the gear 28 farenough to allow the block to drop between them and retain the notch 18ain the hollow shaft 18 in engagement with the projection 266 on therotatable member 26.

In the operation of the sewing machine of the foregoing describedconstruction, when it becomes necessary to wind thread on the bobbin itcan be done without removing the bobbin from the machine or disarrangingthe material being sewn. machine for use with a new kind or color ofthread it is necessary to raise the needle above the presser-foot, asshown in Figs. 1, 10 and 13, and pull enough thread through the needleso that a loop can be passed from the needle around the bobbin case andthe bobbin by the loop-taker- 15, as shown in Figs. 12 and 15, whichordinarily requires about three or four inches ofthread. The flywheel 20is then turned by hand until the needle is moved to its lowermostposition, shown in Figs. ll and 14 (through the material to be sewn ifany is inthe machine at this time) in which position the hook 155 on theloop-taker 15 engages the thread loop formed by the needle extendingthrough the hole in the cloth-plate. When the needle is moved from itsuppermost position, shown in Fig. 10, to its lowermost position, shownin Fig. 11,"the loop-taker 15 is turned one revolution, as theloop-taker shaft 18 is geared to the needle bar actuating shaft in thearm of themachine in the ratio of two to one. After the needle reachesthis lowermost position the button 346 on the cloth-plate 10 isdepressed which raises the block 33 from its position between the gears24 and 28, and the flywheel 20 is turned until the mechanism is locked.This takes place by the gear 22, which is securedto the verticalshaft 21connected to the flywheel 20, turning the loop-taker until theprojection 15a is aligned with the notch 19 and moving the gear 23 withthe shaft 18 towardthe gear 28 sothat the projection 15a isseated in thenotch 19a in the bearing 19, as shown in Fig. 3. In moving to thisposition the looptaker passes a thread loop around the bobbin case 17and bobbin 16, as shown in Figs. 12 and 15, and clamps the threadbetween the rotatable member 26 and the bobbin. The thread is clamped inthis Way by the looplake-r engaging the roller 38'on the lever 37 andmoving the shaft 36 to the position shown in Fig. 3, with the latch inengagement with the end of the shaft, the follower 46 in engagement withthe bobbin, and the plunger rod 35 yieldably urging the bobbin againstthe rotatable member 26. The bobbin 17 is moved within the flange 26a ofthe rotatable member 26in bringing them into engagement with each other,so that thethread loop passing from the needle between the bobbin case16 and the flange of the rotatable member'26 is drawn over the flange ofthe bobbin.16

After threading the b so that upon rotation thereof by the actuatingshaft 27 the thread from the needle is looped around the bobbin and asthe rotation-'consupply spool is bobbin and under the follower 46, theloose end of the thread loop being drawn into the bobbin and woundthereon. In case the bobin runs empty in the course of a sewingoperation the thread will break on the stitch side of the loopimmediately upon rotary movement of the bobbin spool inside the lockedloop-taker, and the loose end will be wound inside the bobbin flanges asabove described. The'spring 53 is compressed between the collar 54 andthe bearing 19' during the latter part of thismovement of the looptakerto its locked position so that upon release of the. flywheel the spring53 moves the loop-taker awayfrom the roller 38-to the position shown, inFig. 4. After clamping the thread between the bobbin and the rotatablemember the motor is started which drives the rotatable member and thebobbin until the thread wound'on the bobbin raises the follower 46 farenough to disengage the latch 43 from the end' of the shaft 36. Theamount of thread required to be wound on the 'bobbinto release the latch43 depends upon the adjustment of the cam 47 relative to the latch, andthe position of the cam is adjusted by the 'disc 50 extending above thecloth-plate. When the follower 46 has raised the latch 43 far enough tobring it out of. engagement with the end of the shaft 36, the spring37?) moves the shaft 36 by the lever 37 to the position shown in Fig. 5,bringing the roller 38 against the loop-taker 15 and disengaging theplunger rod 35 from the bobbin so that it is released from the rotatablemember 26 and moved to its operative position within the bobbin case bythe spring 17a. In moving the" shaft 36 from the position shown in'Fig.3 to that shown in Fig. 5, latch 43 passes across the face of the cam 47and .over the tapered surface 48 formed on the shaft 36 so that thefollower 46 is raised out of the opening 46a in the loop-taken so thatit does not interfere with its operation after the stitch formingmechanism is reconnected to the driving motor.

When the winding of thread on the bobbin stops, the spinning of thesupply spool on top of the arm also stops, and the loop-taker andplunger rod are in the position shown in Fig. 5. However, stoppingthewinding operation does hot reconnect the loop-taker and the remainderof the stitch forming mechanism to the actuating shaft 27 ,as the spring376 is not strong enough to overcome the friction in the mechanism.Consequently, by observing the supply spool the operator can determinewhen the bobbin winding operation is completed. When the bobbin is woundand stops rotating a single taut thread extends from the spool throughthe take-up,

tension, needle, the material being sewn, 1f any is in the machine, andthe hole in the cloth-plate, t0 the bobbin. The flywheel 20 is nowturned backward until the gear 22 moves the gear 23 far enough away fromthe gear 28 to permit the block 33 to drop between the gears 23 and 28;When the gear 23 is moved to this position'by the gear '22 theloop-taker 15 will be moved far enough to disengage its projection fromthe notch 19a in the bearing 19 and to bring the projection 26a on therotatable member 26 into engagement with the notch 18a in the hollowshaft 18 and thereby reconnect the driving motor 32 to the loop-taker 15and the remainder of the stitch forming mechanism connected to thehollow shaft 18, and the sewing operation can be continued from the laststitch formed prior to the bobbin winding operation, the single threadforming a locked loop at the beginning of the new seam.

In view of the foregoing it will be clear that I have produced animproved sewing machine in which the bobbin can be rewound withoutremoving it therefrom or disturbing the material being sewn, whichsimplifies the winding of thread on the bobbin, and which greatlylessens the time required to wind the bobbin.

Although I have shown my improved bobbin winding arran ement inconnection with a rotary center bo%bin sewing machine it is apparentthat modifications of the form of my invention disclosed herein willoccur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood,therefore, that my invention is not limited to the particulararrangement shown and described and I intend in the appended claims tocover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofmy invention. a

Whatl claim as new and desire to. secune by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprisinga bobbin, means for continuously rotating said bobbin to wind threadthereon, and means for moving said bobbin and said means for rotatingthe same into engagement with each other to establish a drivingconnection between them so that thread can be wound on said bobbinwithout removal from the machine.

2. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising a bobbinand a needle, and means for rotating said bobbin to wind thread thereonso that it can be wound without removal from the machine comprisingmeans cooperating with the stitch forming mechanism for securing thethread from said needle to said bobbin.

3. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising a bobbincase having a bobbin therein, means for continuously rotating saidbobbin to wind thread thereon, and means for moving said bobbin and'said means for rotating the same into engagement with each other toestablish a driving connection between them so that thread can be woundon said bobbin without removal from said bobbin case.

4. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising a bobbinand means for passing a thread around said bobbin, and a bobbin windercomprising means for securing the thread passed around the bobbinthereto and means for rotating said bobbin to wind thread thereon sothat it can be wound without removal from the machine.

5. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising a bobbincase having a bobbin thereln, means for driving said bobbin to windthread thereon, means for forming a connection between said drivingmeans and said bobbin without removing the latter from the bobbin case,and means for interrupting the connection between the driving means andthe bobbin in response to winding a predetermined amount of threadthereon.

6. In a-sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising a bobbintherein, means for driving the bobbin to wind thread thereon, means formoving said bobbin within said bobbin case so as to engage said drivingmeans without removing said bobbin from said bobbin case, and means fordisengaging the bobbin from said driving means in response to winding apredetermined amount of thread thereon.

7. Ina sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising acup-shaped bobbin case having a bobbin therein, means for yieldablyretaining said bobbin in frictional engagement with said bobbin case fortensioning the thread during the sewing operation, a rotatable memberadjacent the mouth of said cup-shaped bobbin case, and means for movingsaid bobbin into engagement with said rotatable member for windingthread on the bobbin.

8. In a sewing machine, means for forming stitches comprising acup-shaped bobbin case having a bobbin therein, means for yieldablyretaining said bobbin in frictional engagement with said bobbin case'for tensioning the thread during the sewing operation, a rotatablemember adjacent the mouth of said cup-shaped bobbin case, means formoving said bobbin into engagement with said rotatable member to windthread thereon, and means for disengaging said bobbin from .saidrotatable member in response to winding a predetermined amount of threadon the bobbin.

9. In aisew ng machine having a stitch forming mechanism, a bobbinwinder comprising means for supporting a bobbin, means "for actuatingsaid stitch forming mechanism, and means for disconnecting said a bobbincase with means to said bobbin Winder including means for securing thethread to the bobbin, and means for interrupting the driving connectionbetween said actuating means and the bobbin in response to winding apredetermined amount of thread thereon.

11. In a sewing machine having a stitch forming mechanism including abobbin and a needle, means for supplying thread to said needle, meansfor rotating said bobbin, means for connecting the thread extendingthrough said needle supplying means to said bobbin and forunoving saidbobbinand said means for rotating the same into engagement with eachother so as towind thread on said bobbin without removing the same fromthe machine.

12. In a sewing machine having a bobbin and a needle, means forsupplying thread to said needle, and means for rotating said bobbin sothat thread through said needle supplying means can be wound on saidbobbin without removing the same from-the machine including means forsecuring the thread Ifarom said needle supplying means to said bob- 13.In a sewing machine having a bobbin and a needle, means for supplyingthread to said needle, means for passing thread from said needle aroundsaid bobbin, and means for rotating said bobbin so that thread throughsaid needle can be wound on said bobbin Without removing the same fromthe machine including means for securing the thread to the bobbin passedaround the same from said needle.

14. In a sewing machine having a stitch forming mechanism comprising abobbin and means for passing a thread loop around said bobbin, means foractuating the stitch forming mechanism of the machine, means forclamping the thread passed around said bob-v bin thereto, means fordisengaging the actuating means from the stitch forming mechanism, andmeans for-rotating the bobbin to wind thread thereon so that said bobbincan be wound without removing the same from the machine. v

15. In a sewing machine, a bobbin winder comprising means for supportinga bobbin, means for driving the bobbin to wind thread thereon, means forpassing a thread around the bobbin, and means for securing the thread tosaid bobbin and for forming a driving con- Ma tese nection between saidbobbin and said driving means.

16. In a sewing machine, a bobbin winder comprising means for supportinga bobbin, means for driving the bobbin to wind thread thereon, means forforming a driving connection between said driving means and the bobbinand for securing the thread to the bobbin, and means for interruptingthe driving connection between said driving means and the bobbin inresponse to winding 2. predetermined amount of thread thereon;

17. In a sewing machine, a. bobbin winder comprising means forsupporting a bobbin, means for driving the bobbin to wind threadthereon, and means for forming a driving connection between said drivingmeans and the bobbin including means for securing the thread between thebobbin and the driving means 18. In a sewing machine, a bobbin windercomprising a rotatable member, means for retaining a bobbin inengagement with said member to wind thread thereon, means fordisengaging said bobbin from said member upon winding a predeterminedamount of thread thereon including means for'adjusting the same tochange the amount of thread required to be wound on said bobbin todisgngage said bobbin from said rotatable mem- 19. In a sewing machine,a bobbin winder comprising a rotatable member, means for retaining thebobbin in engagement with said member to wind thread thereon includingan adjustable cam, means for disengaging said bobbinfrom said rotatablemember upon the winding of a predetermined amount of thread thereonincluding a follower bearing on the thread being wound on said bobbinand con-v nected to the means for retaining said bobbin in engagementwith-said rotatable member,

and means for changing the amount of thread required to be woundon saidbobbin to release the same from said rotatable member including meansfor adjusting said cam 20. In a sewing machine having a stitch formingmechanism comprising a needle, a bobbin and a loop-taker adapted to passa thread loop from said needle around said bobbin, a bobbin windercomprising a rotatable member, and means for bringing said bobbin andsaid rotatable member into engagement with each other in such timerelation to the movement of said loop-taker as to clamp the threadpassed around the bobbin between them.

21. 'In a sewing machineihaving a stitch forming mechanism comprising aneedle, a bobbin and a loop-taker adapted to pass a thread loop fromsaid needle around said bobbin, a bobbin winder comprising'a rotatablemember, means for bringing said bobbin and said rotatable member intoengagement with each other in such time relation to thread being woundon said bobbin.

22. In -a sewing machine having a needle and a bobbin, a loop-takerarranged about said bobbin for passing a thread loop from said needleover said bobbin and having an opening therein, a bobbin windercomprising a rotatable member, means for bringing said bobbin and saidrotatable member into engagement with each other in such time rela-.

tion to the movement of said loop-taker as to clamp the thread passedaround the bobbin between them, and means for disengaging said bobbinfrom said rotatable member in response to windingi'a predeterminedamount of thread thereon including a follower extending through theopening in said looptaker and bearing on the thread being wound on saidbobbin.

23. In a sewing machine, a bobbin winder comprising a rotatable member,means for moving the bobbin into engagement with said rotatable memberincluding a shaft having its axis arranged parallel with the axis ofsaid rotatable member, said shaft having a cam formed thereon eccentricwith the axis of said shaft, means for retaining said bobbin inengagement with said rotatable member including a latch engaging the endof said shaft adjacent said cam, means for releasing the bobbin fromsaid rotatable member upon the winding of a predetermined amount ofthread thereon including a follower connected to said latch and bearingon the thread being wound on the bobbin, and means for changing theamount of thread required to be wound on. the bobbin to release the samefrom said rotatable member including means for rotatably ad justing saidcam.

24. In a sewing machine having a looptaker and a bobbin supportedtherein, a bobbin winder comprising a rotatable member within saidloop-taker for actuating the same,

,means for disengaging said rotatable member from said loop-taker andfor moving said bobbin into engagement therewith so that thread can bewound on the bobbin without removing the same from the loop-taker.

25. In a sewing machine having a looptaker and a bobbin supportedtherein, a bobbin winder comprising a rotatable member within saidloop-taker for actuating the same, and means for moving said bobbin intoengagement with said rotatable member in response to disengaging saidloop-taker from said rotatable member for winding thread on said bobbin.

26. In a sewing machine having a stitch forming mechanism comprising aloop-taker with a bobbin therein, means for actuating said stitchforming mechanism and winding thread on said bobbin including a driveshaft, a hollow shaft arranged on said drive shaft and connectedthereto, said hollow shaft having said loop-taker secured thereto andbeing mechanically connected to the remainder of said stitch formingmechanism, and means for moving said hollow shaft longitudinally of saiddrive shaft to disengage said hollow shaft therefrom and to connect thebobbin thereto for winding thread on the bobbin.

27. In a sewing machine having a flywheel and a stitch forming mechanismcomprising a loop-taker with a bobbin therein, means for driving saidstitch forming mechanism and winding thread on said bobbin including anactuating shaft, a hollow shaft arranged on said actuating shaft andconnectedthereto, said hollow shaft having said loop-taker securedthereto and being mechanically connected to the remainder of said stitchforming mechanism, and means including said flywheel for connecting thebobbin to said drive shaft in response to movingsaid hollow shaftlongitudinally of said actuating shaft for winding thread on the bobbin.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HUGH M. STEPHENSON.

